40 Under 40: Matt Wendel, teacher

Matt Wendel

AGE: 36

FAMILY: Wife Staci, children Luke, Maci Jo and Hunter, and Chase

EMPLOYER: Jackson School District

POSITION: Third-grade teacher at South Elementary and junior high wrestling coach

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: St. Paul Lutheran Church member, assistant Sunday school superintendent, Optimist Youth Wrestling director.

HIS TYPICAL DAY:

My typical day would be as follows: change diapers in early morning hours (12 to 6 a.m., never know when); help kids get ready for school (6-6:45 a.m.); eat breakfast and take kids to school/baby sitter (6:45-7:30 a.m.); teach school (7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.); help coach wrestling practice (3:30-6 p.m.); come home, eat, give my kids showers, help with homework/read with kids, play with kids, etc. (6-8 p.m.); say prayers with kids and help put my kids to bed (8 p.m.); talk about next day's events with wife, make phone calls, remind kids to go to bed, grade papers, get things ready for the next day, threaten kids to go to bed, etc. (8-10 p.m.); watch news (10-10:30 p.m.); pray and go to bed (10:30-11 p.m.).

MOST SATISFYING PART OF HIS WORK:

I love kids! Teaching children and seeing them learn different skills is the most satisfying. I also like telling stories to them. Some children believe almost anything you tell them. It's fun to see their reactions.

HIS WORST HAIRCUT:

I honestly haven't had a real bad haircut -- my mom's a beautician. My haircuts are free! However, my worst would probably be when I was 4 or 5. I tried cutting my own hair.

HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

"Down Under" by Men at Work

BIGGEST FIRST-DAY BLOOPER:

My biggest mistake would be pronouncing some students' names wrong on the first day of every school year. It's amazing what some parents name their children ... no offense.

MOST EMBARASSING WORK MOMENT:

Having my boss (principal) walk in on me while I was using the restroom was pretty embarrassing. I was literally caught with my pants down. The lock on the door was broken, but I didn't know it. I got my principal back the next day when I accidentally walked in on him. Needless to say, the third day the door was fixed.